"Right now, the other two guys are better," outside linebackers coach Brian Baker said Wednesday, via The Plain Dealer. "Every place I've been, I've always played the best guys and played those guys in the best positions. So if Barkevious beats one of those guys out, he'll be a starter. Until then, they're the starters."

Smith never started a game and played just 506 snaps, but he racked up 14 sacks as a situational pass rusher. Browns defensive coordinator Ray Horton will find ways to use all of his edge men in what the team is promising will be an attacking 3-4 scheme that puts heat on opposing quarterbacks.

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Who starts -- especially at outside linebacker -- doesn't mean much in a multiple defense that uses a host of players to wreak havoc. Still, Mingo fully plans to be with the first wave when the Browns host the Miami Dolphins in Week 1.

"That's the goal," he said. "That should be everybody's goal. You want to play, you want to help the team win, but you've got to put in the work."

It's a good sign for the Browns that Mingo has to fight his way up the depth chart. Too many first-round picks have been thrown into the Browns' fire. The patience and teaching will pay off.